Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-03-19
his DARLING WIFE.

Ny first encounter with NJ. Gregorio took
place under disagreeable circumstances. 1t
was at the close of cold afternoon in
winter A storm of sleet and rain burst
upon us at the moment, when, arriving
from different directions, we drew up be-
fore the entrance of one of the principal
hotels in Paris, Gregorio in private carri-
age, and / in facre. In haste to gain
shelter, I leaped to the ground and rushing
toward the hotel suddenly came in violent
contact with the broad back of gentleman
rushing in the same direction in other
words, NJ. Gregorio.
In addition TO being extremely near
sighted 1 was embarrassed by half opened
umbrella, which Immediately closed on
my head. The shock was terrific; spun
around like a whirligig and fell upon the
pavement flooded with mud and water
from the streets. AT the cry which escaped
me- Gregorio, to his praise be It said, darted
toward me and quickly lifted me to my
feet
81 am very sorry, very sorry, indeed"
:
Yes you are limping; pray allow me to as
sist you and, putting his arm about me-
he carefully helped me to mount the steps,
slippery with the freezing rain.
" ! was very near falling with you," he
continued, cheerfully, as he placed me in a
chair brought for me by the porter but
excuse me for moment. Ny wife is in
the carriage must bring her in. I'll re-
turn Immediately"
i 4. y l. I'll
me. To tell the truth, the pain in my leg
was too severe to do otherwise. In the
meantime he was talking to some one in
the carriage.
g" You had better put on your rubbers,
my darling ! heard him say, as assisting
his wife TO alight, he escorted her to the
saloon reserved for ladies.
The porter, who was caring for me until
Gregorio's return, was evidently highly in
terested in the new arrivals. They passed,
however, at such distance from us that
was wholly unable, so great is my near
sightedness, to di stinguish the lady, who
held the arm of her husband on the oppo-
site from where l was sitting. l was about
to try to limp into the office alone when |
saw him again coming hurriedlv toward
me- He was a tall man, with broad
shoulders and ruddy cheeks, which con-
trasted well with the healthy brown of his
complexion. His features were refined,
his expression a mixture of shrewd lntelli-
gence and genial good nature. The ease of
his manners and carriage declared him at
once a man of good birth and fortune, ac-
customed to the usages of good society.
He approached me in very impressive
manner, and, with kindly smile, gravely
assisted me to reach the room reserved for
me.
I have told my wife how upset you, -
said he, as we passed along, and she
scolded me roundly for my awkwardness.
Don't hesitate to call on me if | can be of
the slightest service ! beg of you"
The genuine sympathy and frankness of
my new acquaintance so attracted me that
at once began to tell him how much
suffered from asthmatic troubles and with
my eyes.
&" l am on my way to the south of France
for my health now | said. NJ. Gregorio
did not leave me until he had conducted
me safely to the door of my chamber. I
handed him my card, at the same time
thanking him for his polite attentions.
Don't mention it, Mr.. Biron; l count
myself in your debt. But we remain sew
eral days in Paris and shall have ample
time to become better acquainted,' and
holding out his hand Gregorio. with cor
dial Eau revoir, descended to Ieioin his
wife waiting for him below. / confess that
my not having seen her as they passed
through the vestibule annoyed me very
much For a man ordered by his physi-
clan to avoid the slightest excitement had
certainly inaugurated a fine state Of affairs
but would forget it; and installing my
self before the fire lighted cigar and be-
gan to smoke, letting it float across my
wandering thought in a delicious dramatic
cloud.
After a quarter of an hour Of rest and
quiet l felt decidedly better. The pain in
my knee had subsidized and l had an excel
lent appetite Arranging my toilet, | was
about to descend to the sale manger,
when some one tapped at the door,
Enter !" | cried, supposing it to be the
waiter. 1t was NJ. Gregorlo, however, and
with vial in his hand.
My wife has just thought of the
arnica, NJ. Biron," said he, land begged
me to bring it to you immediately-bu
you are going out?'
"Only to the dining-room, l explained.
am so much better l shall take little
nourishment."
"a capital idea-I'll join you in mo-
ment.n and he left the room to inform his
wife of his whereabouts.
had been at the table only few mo-
ments when NJ. Gregorio came in, but he
came alone-his wife was fatigued and
needed repose.n | found him both frank
and amusing at the expiration of a few
minutes ! knew more Of his life than l
would have learned from another in years
of intimacy. Originally from the Gold
Coast, he had gone to the East Indies
when very young and there, at an age
when men are but beginning TO dream Of
success had amassed an immense fortune.
was only 20 years when / returned, .
said he, " and exactly 4 year later married
I.ucie. my wife We have two children,
both boys. AS they are at college there is
nothing to keep US at home, and we travel
the greater part of the time Ny eldest
boy, Is years of age, is jolly fellow, and
gives us little uneasiness. The younger is
Is and studious. But there, I've talked
enough of my scapegraees. You are going
TO the SOUTH believe you told mefn
Yes, to Hyeres l shall remain there
some months"
1--WE heard that il is charming spot.
have a mind to take Lueie there-she
coughs a little and is very delicate. Are
the hotels good Lucie has horror of
badly-kept houses or coarse surrounding
in other words, is romantic and detests
everything prinIiiiyely bourgeois.
There is nothing Of that kind at Hy-
eres. responded. q The hotels are spe-
cially adapted to inyaids, and the climate
superb. The raTest exotics and roses bloom
in the open air the year round
"Weli, if it pleasss Lucie we shall go. l
wonder | never thoEght Of it before, par
ticularly as we have an old friend there
Dr. Delerue Ny wis adores flowers, and
that she may have them at all times l have
built an enormous greenhouse on my
place at Dion, aud, nibbling the wing Of
a chicken, he proceeded to enumerate the
wonderful plants purchased by him for the
pleasure of his wife.
regarded the man beside me with aston
ishment. After twenty years of married
life he still adored his LUCE with the ten
derness OF @ first passion. His wife must
be an incompatible woman, and regretted
more than ever that had been unable to
see her as she passed me IN the yesnouie-
CIV the way, y said her husband rs we
were about TO separate for the night, We
were going to drive to the Bots in the morn